Meditation

Meditation is a time-honored practice in many spiritual and self-help paths. Meditation is essentially directing your mind’s full and undivided attention to a specific thought, process, or action. Perhaps it means holding your gaze on an object, such as a candle flame or a picture, and focusing your thoughts on that object. Many people derive great benefit from paying close attention to their own breathing as they meditate, which tends to focus the mind and shut out distraction. Or, it may mean sitting and repeating a sound or phrase, also called a mantra. But that sitting can be cross-legged on the floor, sitting on a cushion, sitting in a chair, or even lying down instead of sitting. There are many ways of meditating.

Meditation doesn’t have to be a static practice, where you don’t move. Some people do Tai-chi, a Chinese form of slow-moving stylized martial arts exercise, as a moving meditation. Others may do a form of yoga, such as Hatha yoga, as a type of meditation. Simply walking can be a form of moving meditation, if one focuses on the process of walking instead of on the destination. Some people walk labyrinths, in churches, nature, parks or backyards.